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Menopausal memory loss
One of the more subtle symptoms of menopause is memory loss. Unlike a hot flash which the whole world can observe, forgetting familiar names and places is a quiet activity, occurring silently within yourself.
And sometimes, you'd like to keep it that way.
But when this loss involves a co-worker or neighbor whose name you cannot remember or the simple act of asking a family member to pass "that yellow stuff" down the table, then it's hard to keep this malady a secret.
Oftentimes during one of your blank moments, those close to you may think you've entered early Alzheimer's. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten the "What is wrong with you?" from my daughter.
Nothing is wrong, I want to scream back. Just wait until you're my age and see how it feels. Because I can assure you, this is a common symptom.
So,
having been in this phase of my life for at least five years now, I have some
useful tips for getting by when it seems like you're losing your mind.
1. Take photos of your coworkers and store them on your cell phone along with captions. When their name whooshes from your mind, pretend that you're reading a text and take a quick peek. Ah, yes. I'm talking to Trixie, the ex-stripper turned receptionist.
2. If you need to remember to take your calcium after dinner, call yourself and leave a message on your answering machine. I've done this a dozen times. Usually by the time I get home, I've forgotten all about having made that call. I see the blinking light. Get excited over who might have called, only to realize it was myself.
3. Make lists. On your phone. Your computer. On an old fashioned yellow pad of paper. I even leave post-it notes on the fridge door and on the bathroom mirror reminding me to read the list that I left by the side of the bed.
4. I have a theory that all the words I've forgotten will be waiting for me on the other side of menopause (God willing, I reach that side). Younger women will look at me and exclaim, "That old lady sure has a good memory!"
I'm just hoping that by that time I get there, I can remember who I am.
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Comments (37)
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Report Wed Jan 25, 2012 - 3:12 pmI can't actually remember all the times this menopausal memory thing has happened to me. =)Reply -
6 replies, Last reply by Darlene on Sun Jan 29, 2012 at 2:50 pm
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Fri Jan 27, 2012 - 6:45 pm
Oh golly, this list is fucking hilarious and SO PRACTICAL. LOVE IT!Reply -
1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Sat Jan 28, 2012 at 1:43 am
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Report Thu Jan 26, 2012 - 6:45 pm...Ugh! One more thing to worry about. I thought losing my eyebrows was horrible. Now you're telling me I'll forget they're even called eyebrows.Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Thu Jan 26, 2012 at 9:35 pm
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Report Thu Jan 26, 2012 - 5:29 pmWell Janie you've done it agian, written another article describing exactly what we're going thru. Thank you for putting into words what we all think and feel.Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Thu Jan 26, 2012 at 9:34 pm
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Thu Jan 26, 2012 - 12:52 pm
My specialty is not completing a sentence - because I can't get the words I need out of RAM. Could you please let my darling husband and children know that this is (yet another) symptom of menopause. Lately I have realised that quite a few 'issues' that I have been dealing with have been acknowledged as symptoms of menopause, and my darling husband asks "How many symptoms can one condition have?".Reply -
1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Thu Jan 26, 2012 at 3:05 pm
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Report Thu Jan 26, 2012 - 12:28 amI don't have menopause as an excuse, so everyone just thinks I'm a little slow. A friend refers to the memory vacuum as a CRS attack. I asked him what that meant and he replied Cant Remember Shit. Yeah, getting old sucks, but it's better than the alternative. Love your blog, in fact I've always loved your blog.Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Thu Jan 26, 2012 at 5:49 am
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Report Wed Jan 25, 2012 - 8:09 pmAhhh yes, I too have used those tricks.....its always kind of funny (maybe not so much) when I find notes with the same stuff on them and I still have not completed the task. So sorry to be the bearer of this bit of bad news, but judging from my mother, I wouldn't be expecting all those words to come back cause 'on the other side of menopause' lies dementia. Hopefully there'll be a few good years in there somewhere.Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Thu Jan 26, 2012 at 5:48 am
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Report Wed Jan 25, 2012 - 7:13 pmAt least this would give me a good excuse for forgetting names!Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Thu Jan 26, 2012 at 5:48 am
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Report Wed Jan 25, 2012 - 4:40 pmwow!!! you really surprised me this post:)Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Thu Jan 26, 2012 at 5:47 am
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Report Wed Jan 25, 2012 - 4:36 pmI really enjoyed this post - very funny. Or not so funny, if you're going through it. Which I have been for years and years, it seems. I actually have entertained the thought that I had early onset dementia or something. Now that I've read your post, I feel much better about that. I was not aware that memory loss could be a side effect of menopause. Thank you so much for this revelation. PattiReply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Thu Jan 26, 2012 at 5:47 am
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Report Wed Jan 25, 2012 - 4:24 pmJanie! This was so funny - you might forget things, but you're a genius! Love your tips!! I've been forgetting things for years, and I don't think I'm to "that age" quite yet, so holy cow, will I be in trouble!Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Chellesie B Dancer on Thu Jan 26, 2012 at 5:10 am
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Report Wed Jan 25, 2012 - 3:44 pmHa ha. ALL true! One trick I learned is never say don't, as in "don't forget to put out the trash" because don't is a negative and that's what your brain will register, say instead, "remember to put out the trash." It works when I REMEMBER to do it!Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Wed Jan 25, 2012 at 4:17 pm
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Wed Jan 25, 2012 - 9:47 am
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fuck!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing this!!!!!!!!!!! I am seriously shocked. Navigating femaleness from birth to death is bloody trixie.Reply -
3 replies, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Wed Jan 25, 2012 at 4:16 pm
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Report Wed Jan 25, 2012 - 3:58 pmYou are a scream! This wouldn't be nearly as funny if it weren't so damn true. Excellent tips!Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Wed Jan 25, 2012 at 4:16 pm
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Report Wed Jan 25, 2012 - 3:55 pmGreat ideas, Janie. I've never gotten that creative with this memory issue. I do use postit notes a lot though. I liken my memory to Whispernet for my Kindle - suddenly it appears. Unfortunately, that is usually long after the bit of information was needed. I tell my kids I'm an old computer, it take longer to boot up, and my search engine needs more time. I have gotten that :"look" you've mentioned - "what's wrong with you?" Getting old sure isn't for sissies.Reply
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1 reply, Last reply by Janie Emaus on Wed Jan 25, 2012 at 4:15 pm
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